Pet Spotlight: Raffaello

Since West Hollywood is considered the pet friendliest city in Southern California, Patch decided to launch a new series that spotlights residents' most adorable companion animals. 

For our first Pet Spotlight, we chose 8-month-old Raffaello, "son" of Elyse Eisenberg, president of the Weho Heights Neighborhood Association and a Public Facilities Commissioner for the city. The "proud mommy" tells us Raffi's story here:

I had dogs growing up, but have had cats since college, because of working long hours and travelling several months each year. When my cat Emmy died in September, now that I am mostly working from home, I thought I had time again for a dog. It was also a consideration that a dog could travel and even go abroad for an extended trip. 

My mother and her husband have a Coton de Tulear, a related rare breed originally from Madagascar. I had gotten to know and love their dog and when reading about the breed, learned about its Italian cousin, the Bolognese. Since I'm all things Italian, that made the decision easy. 

When searching for puppies, it turned out Raffi's maternal great-grandfather shared my late husband's name - Alberto, and was born outside of Bologna, Italy, less than an hour from where my husband was from. It was fate. He was the one for me.  

As the Bolognese is an Italian breed, he needed a suitable name. Raphael, the Renaissance painter, is a popular male or female name in Tuscany. It was also the name my husband and I had chosen for a child if we had had one.

Raffaello was born September 12, 2010. I flew to Colorado to bring him home in early November. He has been a delight ever since—incredibly smart and the sweetest natured dog I've ever met.

Your pet can be featured too. Send Weho Patch a great photo of your favorite animal companion and we'll put it in our Pet Spotlight series.